Automobile switch



March 18 l1924. 1,487,003

J. L. ADAMS, JR

AUTOMOBILE SWITCH Original Filed Sept. 8, 1914 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Pf3. a.,

WITNESSES: INVENTOR dames I.. Adqrns,dn

J. L.. ADAMS, JR

AUTOMOBILE SWITCH Original Filed Sept. 8, 1914 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .l l l l o T se 0 0 r P i a5 30 9 a3 a@ I ,f fr

y INVENTOR' f I .Addm di ATTORNEY March 18, 1924. 1,487,993

J. L. ADAMS, JR

AUTOMOBILE SWITCH Original Filed Sent. 8, 1914 5 Sheetsl-Sheet 3 Annul... vu n INVENTOR Jams L. Adamadn WITNESSES;

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ATTORNEY Y' l ft...

JAMES I.. ADAMS, JR., OF IZIILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, 'ASBIGNOB '.'lO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMOBILE SWITCH.

original application med September 8, 1914, Serial No. 880,614.V Divided and this application led January 30, 1923.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES L. ADAMS, Jr., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automobile Switches, of which the following is a specification, this application being a division of my application, Serial No. 860,614, filed Sept. 8, 1914.

My invention relates to automobile switches and particularly7 to switches for controlling the starting, ighting and ignition circuits, such as are shown and described in my copending application, Serial No. 860,614, filed Sept. 8, 1914, automobile switch, of which this application is a division.

My invention has, for one of its objects,

to rovide a unitary mechanism for control ing the starting, lighting and ignition systems of automobiles.

A second object of my invention is to provide a switch, of the character indicated above, in which all of the operations of the systems controlled by it may lbe controlled by a single key.

A further object of my invention is to provide a switch which is so constructed that it cannot be tampered with by unauthorized persons.

In the installation of the various elec? trical systems of automobiles, itis desirable that the wiring layouts be as simple'as possible to the end that the time and materals required by the manufacturer to equip the assembled automobile may be materially reduced. It is desirable, also, in the interest of economy of space and of, Convenience in operation, to combine the functions oi" the various independent switches in a unitary mechanism that may be c on-.

trolled by a single lever or key. An 1m'- portant factor in connection with such devices is the means for preventing unauthorized persons from removing the cover plate ot the switch to insert juin ers or to shortcircuit certain portions o the switch `in order to render it operative without the use of the usual key.

I provide a combined switch and fuse block which obviates the necessity for connecting wires between them. A single key Serial No. 815,884.

screws are accesslble from the exterior o the mechanism, unauthorized persons cannot open the switch except by destroying some of its parts. i l

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a front end view in elevation, of the switch mechanism with removed;

Fig. 2 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in section of the switch, the casing and cover being shown;

Fi 3 is a rear view, in elevation, of the switc the casing being removed;

Fig. 4 is a view, in longitudinal section, of the switch with the cover in open position and the casing removed;

Fig. 5 is an end view of a rotatable disk carrying contact elements;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the disk shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the operating mechanism;

Fig. 8 is an end view, partially -in elevation and partiall in' sectlon, of the mechaof a portion of av portion ken away;

the cover Fig. 9 is a frontend view of the switch, l

the cover being in closed position;

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are views of details of the controlling mechanism for the igni- I tion system;

Fig. 13 is a p and apparatus emiloyed in connection with my invention; an

Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are diagrammatic views showing the circuits controlled by the rotatable member of the switch as it is adjusted to various positions. f

Referring particular y to Fi s. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the switch 1 comprises a hoow cylindrical base member 2 of insulating material having a reduced portion 3, in which is mounted a lock 4 of any desired type as, for example, a Yale lock. A. stationary portion of the lock 4 is secured to the member diagrammatic view of circuits 2, while the rotatable portion of the lock is connected to a short shaft 5 that is provided with a flange portion 6.

disk 7 of insulating material, which is loosely mounted upon the shaft 5 adjacentA to the flange 6, is provided with a spring-pressed pawl 8, which coacts with a shou der portion 9 on the shaft 5 to form a ratchet mechanism. The disk 7 is rotated by the shaft 5 when the latter is rotated in one d irection, but it remains stationary under other conditions. The disk 7 and a contact segment 10, which is mounted upon the disk, are provided with a number of depressions 11 that are engaged by coacting contact fingers to accentuate the position of the disk as it rotates. The contact segment 10 is provided, also, with contact pieces 12 extending through the disk 7 to connect a coacting pair of contact fingers 57 and 60 which engage the contact pieces simultaneously on opposite sides of the disk.

A disk 13, of insulating material, which is loosely mounted on the end portion of the shaft 5, is provided with a pair. of oppositely disposed slots 14 to coact with c orresponding lugs 15 on the shaft to provide a lost-motion connection between these members. rllhe disk 13 is provided with a continuous peripheral groove 16, which coacts with a slider 17 (Figs. 11 and 12) for a purpose to be later described.

'llhe short shaft 5 is provided with a central longitudinal bore to be occupied by a slidable pin 18 that is engaged by the end of the key 19 when it is inserted in th e lock 4 and which operates, upon an additional forward movement of the key beyond its normal operating position, to effect the engagement of spring contact members 20 and 21 to control the starting circuit. Such additional movement is permitted by the laterally movable tumblers of the switch in the same manner as they permit the insertion of the key.

The front face of the base member 2 serves as a fuse block, and four fuses 22, which protect the lamps oitI the vehicle, are symmetrically arranged about the reduced portion 3. A resistor 23, which is employed in.

connection with the lighting system, is also mounted on the base member 2. An annular member 24, which is connected to the stationary portion of the lock 4 by radial arms 25, and that is provided with suitable openings iEor bolts or screws, aords a convenient means for attaching the switch to the dashboard of the vehicle. A cover 26, which is hinged to the member 24, is provided with a slot 27 for the insertion of the key and a slot 28 for inspection of a dial 29 that is carried by the rotatable portion of the lock 4. The

cover 26 is also provided, upon its inner surface, with a finger 30, which coacts with the dial 29 to prevent the opening of the cover 26, eXce t when a notch 31 in the dial 29 registers with the linger 30. rlhe dial 29 is provided, also, with holes 32 near its pe- Menace riphery, which coact with a spring 33 te accentuate the position of the dial. A suitable casing member 34, which encloses the switch mechanism, is fastened to the annular member 24 in such a manner that it may be removed only when the front cover is o en.

lihe circuits and apparatus employe in connection with my invention are illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 13. llt will be noted that the head lights 35, side lights 36 and tail light 37 of the Vehicle, are arranged in separate circuits so that any desired combination of lights may be obtained by properly setting the switch. A pair of contact fingers 38 and 39, which are controlled by coacting cam surfaces 39a and 39h, on the disk 7, operate to connect the head lights 35 in series or in parallel relation, according as the finger 38 is in its upper or lower position.

rllhe ignition system shown in Fig. 13 comprises an 'induction coil 40, an interrupter 41 and a distributer 42. 'llhe direction of the current traversing the interrupter is controlled by a reversing switch comprising a pair of spring arms 43 and 44, which are actuated by the slider 17 in the groove 16 to en age contact members 45 and 46, respective y, when they are in their upper positions, and to engage contact members 46 and 47, respectively, when in their lower positions. A ballast resistor 53, which is included in the ignition circuit, is mounted on the base member 2. rllhe ignition mechanism is actuated by the shaft of a dynamo-electric machine 48, the batterycharging circuit of which is controlled by a cut-out 49. The contact fingers 20 and 21 control the circuit of the coil of an electromagnetic switch 50 which, in turn, controls the connection of a starting motor 51 to a storage battery.

llt may be assumed that the vehicle to which the switch may be attached is stationary and that the switch mechanism is in the off position, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 13, in which no current is supplied to the circuits controlled byv it. When it is desired to operate the vehicle, the key 19 is inserted in the lock 4 and turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l, until the legend lGrN on the dial 29 registers with the slot 28. rlhe disk 7 and contact segment 10 then occupy thepositions, relatively to the several co-acting contact fingers, as illustrated in Fig. 14. The slider 17, which, in the o' position, occupies a position midway between the ends of its path of movement, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, is actuated either upwardly or downwardly as the case may be, to connect the nterrupter 41 in circuit with the battery. Assuming that the slider 17 has been actuated upw-ardly, current Hows through a circuit extending from the battery, through Sti lill@ the contact members 20 and 21. A. circuit is then completed which extends from the battery. through conductor 52, series field winding 54, armature winding of the gen erator 48, conductor 55, coil of switch 50 and contact members 21 and 20 to ground. The switch 50 then closes to comp ete the circuit of the starting motor 51, which may be operatively connected to the engine (not shown) in any suitable manner.

When the engine starts under its own power, the operator releases the key and the contact members 20 and 21 separate to deenergize the coil of the switch 50 and thereby open the motor circuit. The switch 50 may also open when the generator voltage opposes that of the battery. -When the engine reaches a predetermined speed, at which the voltage of the generator 48 has reached a predetermined value, the cut-out 49 operates to close-the charging circuit of the generator.

When it is desired to operate the vehicle lamps, the key 19 is rotated in a clockwise direction to connect the desired lamps in circuit. In the position designated by H & T on the dial 29, the circuits are arranged to connect the head lights and tail li ht in circuit, as illustrated in Fig. 15. he battery and the generator 48 are connected to the contact segment 10 through contact fingers 56 and 60. The head lights 35, which are connected in parallel relation, are connected to the contact segment 10 by means of contact finger 57, fuse 22, and contact fingers 38 and 39. The tail light 37 is also connected to the contact segment 10 through a contact linger 58 anda fuse 22.

In the next position of the switch, which is designated by DIM, the circuits are arranged, as illustrated in Fig. 16, with the head lights 35 in series. The head lights are thus dimmed because of the increased resistance of the circuit. The tail light remains in circuit and is not dimmed.

The arrangement of the circuits, when the switch is in the position designated by` I-I, S & T, is illustrated .in Fig. 17. The head lights 35 are again arranged in parallel relation for full illumination. The side lights 36, which are connected in parallel relation, are connected -to the contact segment 10, through a contact finger 59 and a fuse 22. The tail light 37 is also conected in circuit.

The last operative position of the switch is illustrated in Fig. 18, in which the side lights and tail light only am connected in system.

circuit. The battery is connected to the contact segment 10 through the resistor 23 and a contact linger 60, andthe lights are accordingly protected from excesslve current because the resistor 23 compensates for the voltage drop caused by the head lights when they are in circuit.

When 1t is desired to stop the engine and turnoii' all lamps of the vehicle, the switch is actuated in a clockwise direction to the olf position. The slider 17 is then at the point of intersection of the branches of the groove 16, in which position the ignition circuit is broken by the contact members 43 and 44. When it is desired to withdraw the key and leave the switch locked in any desired position, the key is rotated in a clockwise direction to obtain the desired grouping of the lamps. The key is then turned in a counter-clockwise direction until the dial registers the off position. The key may then be withdrawn and the switch is locked, with'the desired lamps burning and the ignition circuit operative. The position of the disk 7 is not aected by the reverse movement of the key, because of the disks pawl and ratchet connection to the lock. The disk 13, however, has a lostmotion connection with the shaft 5 and will not be returned to the off osition of the slider 17, which controls t e ignition By means of this arrangement, the engine may be left running, although the key has been removed. In order to stop the engine' when the key is rotated counter-clockwise, the key is rotated beyond the off position to the next position, which -is that designated by S & T. The disk 13 is then in the olf position and the ignition circuit is broken. The key may then be rotated clockwise to the proper position for withdrawal, without affecting the position of either of the disks 7 and 1 When the key is again inserted and rotated in the clockwise direction,4 the pawl and ratchet mechanism insures that the dial 29 and disk 7 will again assume their normal relative positions. It will be readily understood that further rotation of the disk 13 .will cause the slider to move in the direction opposite to that described above in connection with the operation of the switch and thus effect the engagement of contact members 43 and 44 with contact members 46 and 47, respectively, to reverse the connections ofthe interrupter 41. y

By omitting the spring contact members 2O and .21, the switch may be employed without further change for the control of lighting and i ition circuits only. Also, if the disk 13, s ider 17 and contact members 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47 are omitted, the switch may blused for starting and lighting control o y. A

lt will be noted that ll provide a simple and eficient means for controlling the starting, lighting and ignition systems of a motor Vehicle by means of a single actuating element. By combining a number of independentcontrolling devices in a single unitary mechanism, l have avoided the use of a large number of conductors that are ordinarily necessary to connect the several electrical systems with the controlling mechamsm.

The switch operates automatically to reverse the direction of current through the interrupter of the ignition system and thus prolong the life of the interrupter contact members by preventing the excessive trans- `ter of metal from one of the contact members to the other, which results when the current always flows in the same direction. lt is possible, by means of the mechanism above described, to produce any desired combination or arrangement of the various electrical systems controlled by the switch. When the key is withdrawn from the switch, the mechanism is locked in the position in which it is left until the key is again inserted. Since the switch is unaccessible, both from the front and the rear, it cannot be tampered with during the absence of the owner. rlhese and many other advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains.

l claim as my invention 1. ln a lightmg and ignition switch, the combination with a plurality of circuit-controlling devices each comprising relatively movable contact members, one of said devices having a plurality of operative positions in which corresponding combinations of contact members are in engagement, of a single member for actuating said devices and for locking them in their res ective adjusted positions when said one evice is in any of its several operative positions.

2. ln a lighting and ignition switch, the combination with a plurality of circuit-controlling devices each comprising relatively movable contact members, one of said devices having a plurality of operative positions in which corresponding combinations of contact members are in engagement, of a single key for actuating said devices to their respective operative and inoperative positions and for locking them in any of such positions.

3. 'lhe combination with a plurality of circuit-controlling devices comprising relatively movable contact members having a plurality of operative positions in` which corresponding combinations of contact members are in engagement, of'a removablev key that is rotatable to actuate one of said devices to its respective operative positions and is longitudinally movable to actuate another of said devices to an operative posi- :memos l 5. The combination with a plurality ci electrical switches, a dial having characters for indicating the positions of certain of said switches and a rotatable member 'lion actuating the switches operatively associated with said dial, of a slidable member for controllin another of said switches, for actuating sald rotatable member, and for locking said rotatable member in desired positions.

6. rlhe combination with a plurality oi electrical switches, a dial having characters for indicating the positions of certain ci? said switches and a rotatable member for actuating the switches operatively associated with said dial, of a slidable member mounted in the axis of said rotatable member ifor controlling another of said switches, for actuating said rotatable member, and for locking said rotatable member in predetermined positions.

7. The combination with the lighting, ignition and starting switches of a motor vehicle, of a lodk having a rotatable member for controlling said lighting and ignition switches and having a longitudinally movable member forcontrolling said starting switch.

8. 'lhe combination with the lighting, ignition and starting switches of a motor vehicle, of a lock having a rotatable member for controlling said lighting and ignition switches and a longitudinally movable key for controlling said starting switch and for actuating said rotatable member.

9. 'lhe combination with the ignition and' lighting switches of a motor vehicle, of means for controlling said switches, said means comprising an oscillatable member for reversing the connections of the ignition switch, and a rotatable member for effecting the oscillation of said oscillatable member and for determining the position of said lighting switch. v

10. 'lhe combination with the starting, lighting and ignition switches of a motor vehicle, of a unitary mechanism for controlling said Switches to produce a plurality of combinations of positions thereof, said mechanism comprising an actuating member having a longitudinal movement tor controlling one of said switches and a rotative movement for controlling the other switches, said member being operable to eflil@ fect the locking of said mechanism in a. plurality of positions.

11. The combination with a plurality of coacting contact members for controlling a plurality of circuits, of a unitary mechanism for controlling said contact members comprising common means for actuating said mechanism and for locking said mechanism in a pluralit of operative positions of said contact mem ers.

12. The combination with a plurality of switches, of a unitary mechanism for controlling said switches, said mechanism having a plurality of positions in which certain combinations of said switches are operative, said mechanism comprising a manually operable member for effecting the actuation of said mechanism and for locking said mechanism in said positions. -v

13. The combination with a switching mechanism comprising a rotatable member and a casing member that is attached to said mechanism by means entirely within said casing, of a cover member that is removable from said mechanism only when said rotatable member is in a certain position and a removable key member for controllin said mechanism.

14. n a mechanism comprising the start-l ing, lighting and ignition switches for amotor vehicle, the combination of a main operating device for controlling the lighting and ignition switches, a second operating device comprising a rod slidable relatively to saidv main device for controlling the starting switch, and common means for actudevice for controlling the light# ating said second device and for locking said main operating device.

16. In a mechanism comprising the starting, lighting and ignition switches for a motor vehicle, the combination of a dial plate, a main operating device associated with said dial plate and controlling the lighting and ignition switches, said main operating device having a hub provided with a passage, a secondoperating device comprising a rod slidable in the passage in said hub, 4and common means for actuating said slidable rod and for locking said main operating device in certain of its positions.

17. A controller comprising a base part, a removable hood therefor, a switch therein, a second switch, a removable handle therefor, means for locking the firstfmentioned switch to prevent its movement, and means operated by the attachment of said removable handle for disabling said locking means.

18. A controller comprising a base part, a. switch carried by said base part, a second switch, a removable handle therefor, means for locking the first-mentioned switch to prevent its movement, and means operated by the attachment of said `removable handle to disable said lookin means.

19. In a controller, t e combination of two switches, a removable handle for one and a lock for the other, and means actuated by the attachment of said removable handle for Adisabling said lock. v

20. A controller com rising a base part, a removable hood there or, a switch therein, a second switch, a removable operating handle therefor, means for locking the firstmentioned switch and hood, and means operated by said removable handle for disabling said lockin means.

In testimony w ereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23rd day ofl January, 1923.

JAMES L. ADAMS, Jn. 

